Stankevicius Reflects On Wembley Experience

Having won two of their previous four Euro 2016 Qualifiers, Lithuania were hoping to spring an upset, but in the end the Three Lions proved too strong, going 3-0 up by the time Stankevicius was introduced and eventually adding a fourth to maintain their 100 per cent record. 

But despite the result, Stankevicius says it was a useful experience. He told LCFC.com: “It was a big moment for me and one I’ve been waiting two or three months for. It felt so good to have the chance to go out onto that pitch to show what I can do. The coach trusted me to just go out there and play. 

“I was waiting on the side-lines for a few minutes to get on, and I was always quite confident. I just wanted to get on the ball, but we didn’t have a lot of possession so it was a lot of defending, and maybe we were a bit nervous when we did get it. In my head I was enjoying it though. 

“In the first few minutes it didn’t really seem real, it was so exciting. But after about five minutes you start getting used to it. But yes it was a big moment and it felt great. 

“There were 83,000 fans but when you go out onto the pitch you forget everything. When you’re watching from the bench you can hear the fans, but as soon as you go on the pitch you forget that you’re playing in front of all those people and you can’t see the fans.” 

It was an unfamiliar role for Stankevicius when he entered the fray, and he admits it was difficult against an England side who haven’t lost a competitive match at home since 2007. 

“I was a midfielder, an attacking midfielder,” he said. “We played two defensive midfielders and then I was the attacking one. I had to drop a bit deeper though because England pressed us very high. I think probably our team didn’t have enough possession but it was certainly quite a good game. 

“I think we should have done better, but England are a big team and it was a good experience. 

“I’m so glad that so many Lithuanian fans came here and it was quite a big crowd. Even though we lost they were still supporting us and no matter what we wanted to play well for them.”